Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty: Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson plans to pursue the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger, the suspect accused of murdering four University of Idaho students.
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- Prosecutors consider all penalties, including capital punishment.
- Document filing indicates the state’s intent to seek the death penalty based on the evidence available
Background and arrest details: Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology student at Washington State University, was arrested in late December for the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle, all University of Idaho students.
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- Roommate discovered the bodies on November 13.
- Kohberger, aged 28, was apprehended weeks after the incident.
Death penalty options in Idaho: Under a recently amended law, Idaho allows for execution by either lethal injection or firing squad.
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- Supporters argue that lethal injection has become ineffective due to a lack of access to the required drugs.
- Idaho became the fifth state to adopt executions by firing squad, with Utah being the last state to carry out such execution in 2010.
The controversy surrounding execution methods: Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, criticizes the use of firing squads, deeming it a “brutal message.”
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- Dieter believes this method is considered cruel and unusual punishment and represents a step backward.
- Challenges in court are expected for Idaho due to the use of firing squads.
DNA evidence and trial preparations: DNA evidence implicates Bryan Kohberger in the crime.
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- DNA from his cheek swab matches DNA found on a knife sheath at the crime scene.
- Court hearing set for October 2, with arguments regarding DNA evidence and grand jury indictment.
Defense investigator’s claims: A defense investigator asserts that a surviving housemate possesses “exculpatory” evidence favorable to the defendant’s case.
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- The defense demands the housemate’s appearance in court and challenges the probable cause used for Kohberger’s arrest.
Legal challenges and grand jury proceedings: Prosecutors can seek a grand jury indictment without a preliminary hearing, potentially bypassing opportunities for the defense to challenge probable cause.
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- A grand jury indictment would necessitate the disclosure of potentially exculpatory evidence.
- Defense and prosecution lawyers debate the validity of a subpoena for a Nevada witness in an Idaho criminal case.
Trial preparations and media coverage: The defense anticipates careful proceedings by the Latah County prosecutor to avoid appeal grounds in a potential death penalty case.
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- The prosecutor plans to disclose “potential Brady/Giglio material” related to a police officer involved in the investigation.
- Previous court documents reveal evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene through surveillance images and DNA.